Emil dietz



E. 'DIETZ. BOX PASTBNER;

(No. Model.)

No. 487,667. Patented Dec. 6, 1892.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL DIETZ, OF INDIANAPOLIS,-INDIANA.

BOX-FASTEN ER.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 487,667, dated December 6, 1892. Application filed April 12, 1892' Serial No, 428,905. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL DIETZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lid-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my said invention is to provide a convenient, simple, and inexpensive fastening device for the lids of boxes or cases, whereby such lids may be held securely enough in place for the purposes of handling or shipment without further appliances, and to which a seal or look may be added, and a secure lock thus provided, when desired.

Said invention will be first fully described, and then pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

' which are made a part hereof and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box or packing-case provided with my improved fastener; Fig. 2, a detail sectional View on the dotted line 2 2 in Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a detail sectional view looking upwardly from the dotted line 3 3 in Figs. 2 and 3, and Fig. 4 a View showing the form and method of attaching the spring D.

In said drawings, the portions marked A represent the body of the box or case; B, the lid; 0, a pin secured to said box and extending up through a hole in said lid, and D a spring secured to said lid alongside said hole.

My invention is designed especially to be used in connection with that sort of boxes or cases which are used for the shipment of articles and which are intended to be returned for further shipment. Beer-boxes, egg-cases, and such like structures are among those which fall within this category.

I have illustrated said invention in connection with a box designed for the shipping of beer.

The box A and its lid B are of a plain and simple construction. The box usually has cuts in the ends, which serve as hand-holes, and the lid is preferably hinged thereto, as shown. The lid has a hole in its front edge, and surrounding this hole there should be a plate or washer b.

The pin 0 is secured to the inner front edge of the box, preferably at a central point, and

is adapted to register with and extend up through the hole in the lid. As shown most plainly in Fig. 2, this pin is of peculiar formation. Its upper end is preferably round, and it should be pointed in order to enter the hole in the lid easily. Its lower end is flattened and made thin, and at the point directly above the edge of the box isa taper extending from the round to the flat and thin portion and which is adapted to overhang the spring D when the lid is closed, as shown.

The spring D is preferably a straight spring extending across the hole in the lid and is secured to the under side of said lid at points some distance to each side of said hole. Normally it crosses the hole preferably somewhat to one side of the center, but is adapted to be forced to one side when the pin passes up through the hole, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and to spring back under the inclined or overhanging part of said pin when its larger or round part has passed. While the body of the spring is straight, its ends are preferably turned at substantially right angles therewith and enter the wood of the lid. The spring is thus secured from slipping endwise. It is further secured in place by the staples cl.

The operation is that (the parts being assembled) when the lid is closed the upper end of the pin 0 will pass through the hole, forcing the spring aside in its passage, and that when it reaches its final position said spring will spring back under the inclined or overhanging portion'. This holds the cover quite securely in place and prevents it from shaking or rattling, but of course is not a secure lock. To provide for the latter, a small hole 0 is drilled through the pin (at a point just above the washer b on the cover when the cover is closed) and a seal S is added, which seal may be composed of wire and a bit of lead, similar to the seals used on freight-cars, or such other seal or fastener as may be desired. If preferred, a padlock or other lock might be used; but the cheap wire and lead seal is generally preferred. The fastening Without any sealing or locking device is ample to hold the cover in position for purposes of shipment when the case or box is empty, and so the sealing or locking device is only added for purposes of security to prevent the pered inclined or overhanging portion, and a spring secured to the lid, which normally extends over the hole therein and is adapted to press in under said inclined or overhanging portion and thereby secure the lid from being easily opened, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 30th-day of March, A. D. 1892.

EMIL DIETZ. [L. s.] Witnesses:

CHESTER BRADFORD, J. A. WALSH. 

